Vegetarian Festivus Recipe

Name: Vegetarian Festivus
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: Vegetable Custard; 1 small butternut squash, peeled and cut into one inch cubes; 1 large sweet potato, cut into one inch cubes (no need to peel); olive oil; salt and pepper; 2 rosemary branches; 1 sage twigs; seeds from butternut squash; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 onions, chopped; 4 garlic cloves, chopped; 1 jalapeno chile, chopped; 1 teaspoon oregano; 1 teaspoon cumin; 1 teaspoon salt; half teaspoon pepper; 1 teaspoon hot smoked paprika; 1 bunch collards, cleaned and chopped; 1 tablespoon cider vinegar; 4 ounces soft goat cheese; half cup grated Parmesan; 12 eggs; three fourths cups heavy cream; 1 teaspoon salt; Corn Bread Topping; 1 1/4 cups buttermilk; 1 egg; 1 1/2 cups cornmeal; 1/2 cup flour; 1 teaspoon salt

Servings: persons

Vegetable Custard
1 small butternut squash, peeled and cut into one inch cubes
1 large sweet potato, cut into one inch cubes (no need to peel)
olive oil
salt and pepper
2 rosemary branches
1 sage twigs
seeds from butternut squash
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 onions, chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 jalapeno chile, chopped
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon salt
half teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon hot smoked paprika
1 bunch collards, cleaned and chopped
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
4 ounces soft goat cheese
half cup grated Parmesan
12 eggs
three fourths cups heavy cream
1 teaspoon salt
Corn Bread Topping
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1 egg
1 1/2 cups cornmeal
1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons melted butter

1
Toss the squash and sweet potato cubes (3-4 cups before cooking) with olive oil, salt and pepper, rosemary and sage and roast at 400 degrees for about 30-45 minutes. Check from time to time and add a tablespoon or two of water if starting to scorch or stick. The cubes should be soft but not mushy and glazed on the outside. Taste for seasoning.
2
At the same time that the sweet potato and squash are baking, toss the butternut squash seeds with oil, a little salt, and a little cayenne and bake until crisp, 10 or 15 minutes. Refrain from eating them all, you need them later.
3
Cook the chopped onions in a saute pan over medium high heat with the olive oil until caramelized and almost crisp. Add garlic, Jalapeno pepper, cumin, salt and pepper, paprika and oreganor. Simmer over low heat for a few minutes. Stir in collards. Add half a cup of water and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook until the collard is tender, about 15 minutes. The mixture should be moist but not at all wet. Uncover and cook off extra liquid if necessary. Taste for seasoning.
4
Beat eggs and cream together with another teaspoon of salt.
5
Start to construct your dinner. I used a ten inch deep dish pie pan, brushed with olive oil. Pour in the egg and heavy cream custard.Spoon in a layer of sweet potato and squash. It should be one vegetable cube thick, no more. Sprinkle Parmesan over the custard. Spoon over a layer of collard greens and dot with goat cheese. You may have leftover custard, squash and sweet potato mix and collards depending on the size of your dish, squash and bunch of collards. Worse thigs have happened. You must leave room for the cornbread top. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes, until custard is set.
6
Mix the dry ingredients for the topping. Beat in the buttermilk and egg and stir in the melted butter. Combine only until blended and pour over the vegetables, spreading with a spoon so that the vegetable layer is completely covered. Sprinkle the squash seeds over the top of the cornbread layer. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes, until cornbread is lightly browned and pulls away from the side.
7
Cool at least 10 minutes before cutting. Serve with a relish or pickle on the side. It's quite rich.

1713

kcal

Calories

129

Fat

Carbs

Protein

Fat Carbs Protein

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.

Tips for the best results

Read through all the steps once before you start and measure out your ingredients first — it makes everything go more smoothly.
Preheat the oven fully and bake on the middle rack for the most even results.
Check for doneness a few minutes early — a toothpick in the center should come out with just a few moist crumbs.
Let it cool before slicing so it sets properly and holds its shape.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within a few days.

Variations & substitutions

Use a neutral oil or a plant-based spread in place of butter for a dairy-free version.
A good 1:1 gluten-free flour blend works well if you need a gluten-free version.
Coconut cream is a reliable plant-based alternative to dairy cream.

No specific allergen information. Please check the ingredient list for possible allergens.

My Personal Notes

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How did you like this recipe?

This recipe makes 4 servings. You can adjust the portion size directly on this page.

You need 32 ingredients. The key ingredients include: Vegetable Custard, 1 small butternut squash, peeled and cut into one inch cubes, 1 large sweet potato, cut into one inch cubes (no need to peel), olive oil, and more.

Yes, Vegetarian Festivus falls under the Baking & Desserts category and is a great choice for this type of meal.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3–5 days. For longer storage, freeze for up to 3 months — no need to refrigerate or reheat.

That's it — enjoy your meal!

Vegetarian Festivus

Tips for the best results

Variations & substitutions

My Personal Notes

How did you like this recipe?

Frequently Asked Questions